Air cleaner assembly for internal combustion engines

Abstract

An air cleaner for small internal combustion engines, including a removable or replaceable air cleaner element detachably mounted within an air cleaner cavity which is defined at least on part by the shroud of the engine. The air cleaner element includes engagement structure for releasable engagement with a wall of the air cleaner cavity to permit mounting of the sir cleaner element within the cavity, and removal of the air cleaner element from the cavity, without the use of tools. In addition, a cover is provided for releasably engaging the air cleaner cavity to cover the air cleaner element.

1. An internal combustion engine, comprising:
 an engine housing;  
 a shroud covering at least a portion of said engine housing, said shroud including a plurality of first attachment structures;  
 a cover mounted to said shroud, said shroud and said cover cooperating to define a substantially enclosed air cleaner cavity; and  
 an air cleaner element including a plurality of second attachment structures configured for releasable attachment with respective attachment structures of said first plurality, wherein said air cleaner element is releasably mounted within said air cleaner cavity.  
 
   
   
     2. The internal combustion engine of  claim 1 , further comprising a carburetor attached to said engine housing, said carburetor in fluid communication with said air cleaner cavity. 
   
   
     3. The internal combustion engine of  claim 2 , wherein said shroud includes a wall having an opening, said air cleaner cavity in communication with said carburetor through said opening. 
   
   
     4. The internal combustion engine of  claim 3 , wherein said air cleaner element is positioned in abutting sealing relationship with said wall, whereby particulate materials are prevented from passing between said wall and said air cleaner element. 
   
   
     5. The internal combustion engine of  claim 1 , wherein said shroud defines a recessed portion therein, said cover covering said recessed portion to define said air cleaner cavity. 
   
   
     6. The internal combustion engine of  claim 1 , wherein said first attachment structures of said shroud include a plurality of mounts, and said second attachment structures of said air cleaner include a plurality of tabs releasably engagable with respective said mounts to releasably attach said air cleaner element to said shroud. 
   
   
     7. The internal combustion engine of  claim 6 , wherein said mounts are integrally formed with said shroud. 
   
   
     8. The internal combustion engine of  claim 6 , wherein said mounts include resilient portions releasably engagable with at least a portion of said tabs. 
   
   
     9. The internal combustion engine of  claim 1 , wherein said cover includes a plurality of tabs releasably received within apertures in said shroud to thereby releasably attach said cover to said shroud. 
   
   
     10. An internal combustion engine, comprising:
 an engine housing;  
 a shroud covering at least a portion of the engine housing;  
 a cover mounted to said shroud, said shroud and said cover cooperating to define a substantially enclosed air cleaner cavity;  
 an air cleaner element disposed within said air cleaner cavity; and  
 means for releasably retaining said air cleaner element within said air cleaner cavity, wherein said means for releasably retaining comprises a plurality of mounts integrally formed with one of said shroud and said air cleaner element and a plurality of tabs extending from the other of said shroud and said air cleaner element, said tabs and mounts releasably engagable with one another.  
 
   
   
     11. The internal combustion engine of  claim 10 , further comprising a carburetor attached to said engine housing, said carburetor in fluid communication with said air cleaner cavity. 
   
   
     12. The internal combustion engine of  claim 10 , wherein said shroud defines a recessed portion therein, said cover covering said recessed portion to define said air cleaner cavity. 
   
   
     13. The internal combustion engine of  claim 10 , further comprising means for sealing said air cleaner element to said shroud and preventing the passage particulate material therebetween. 
   
   
     14. The internal combustion engine of  claim 10 , further comprising means for mounting said cover to said shroud. 
   
   
     15. An internal combustion engine, comprising:
 an engine housing;  
 a carburetor attached to said engine housing;  
 a shroud covering at least a portion of the engine housing, said shroud defining a recessed cavity therein in communication with said carburetor;  
 a plurality of mounts within said recessed cavity;  
 an air cleaner element disposed within said recessed cavity, said air cleaner element releasably retained by said mounts, wherein said air cleaner element comprises a plurality of tabs, said tabs and mounts releasably engagable with one another.